The primary disadvantage with online classes is motivation. Professor Lee Allen from the University of Memphis reports that the most important skills to have with online classes are time management and self-discipline. You do not have a teacher to check in with physically every class and many online classes allow you to work at your own pace. While this is beneficial for those with a hectic schedule, you may find that if you slacked off during the semester you need to cram 12 weeks of material into 2 weeks.
With online teaching your professor is easiest to contact through email but if you need an immediate response for a question on an exam or homework, you may be out of luck. Your professor may take many days to respond to your question. Some professors increase communication options by having open office hours or providing a telephone number to contact at certain time periods.
Teachers also face problems with a reduced relationship since they do not have face-to-face contact for each lesson. History professor Steven Stein from the University of Memphis says that in a classroom you can generally tell if a student is struggling and needs assistance, while online some students get lost and never get back on the right path to understand the material.
Many students, especially older students not exposed to technology during their younger years, do not know how to work the equipment for online classes including the online applications and interfaces, emails and how to submit assignments appropriately. You also experience a problem doing assignments if you lose your Internet service or your computer breaks.